Following an unforeseen discontinuation of Rely 280, a glufosinate-ammonium herbicide used by avocado growers for Roundup-resistant weeds, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation issued a Special Local Need registration for alternative brand Forfeit 280.

The California Avocado Commission announced that manufacturer Loveland Products agreed to support the SLN registration and DPR quickly approved it. Growers interested in Forfeit need an SLN label to use the herbicide, which will have an effective registration through Oct. 31, 2029.

The commission added that the discontinuation was particularly surprising, as Rely had been approved in May following five years of DPR assessment. The commission was notified that Rely manufacturer BASF had decided to discontinue the product in August. 

“And as we learned, it was a decision that was just as surprising to our contacts at BASF who had worked closely with us on the registration process,” CAC wrote.

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